Has any one tried Scenics E-Z Water for rivers or lakes? If so, is it easier to work with than Envirotex-Lite? Does it look more realistic than Envirotex-Lite? I’m new to the hobby (trying N-scale) so any help woulf be great.
Thanks,
Easier to use, yes. Look better, no. Enviro-Tex Lite is about the best thing out of the box you can get. The WS water surface is easily scratched and to me leaves and unnatural shine to it. Good surface prep is the key to making good water either way.
Mr. Train,
[#welcome]
This topic has been done to death . Try searching “EZ Water” in the box at the left and see what you come up with (I’m guessing 4 or 5 separate threads just in 2010).
I am pleased with the results I got from Unreal Details “Magic Water.” It is extremely liquid and water like when it pours so you really have to think ahead because it will find every little gap! I had the advantage that the meandering creek running the full width of one of my 2’ wide domino benchwork sections was in a self contained piece of carved foam (painted and detailed, with rocks, “tree trunks” and enough ground foam in the creek bed to look like water weeds), that I could remove from the site, dam up the exposed ends with styrene sheet sealed in place with adhesive caulk, and placed the entire creekbed in a sort of tub lined with cheap vinyl table cloth. I gave it a good long time to set and moved it carefully so as not to crack the “water” but it set neatly down in place and looks great to my eyes. The sheet styrene dams pulled away easily due to the flexible adhesive caulk I used. I might add a few water swirls using gloss medium.
Dave Nelson
In the paints and finishes section of most hardware stores, you can find a finish quality kit for two-part epoxy. It will have two bottles, one with hardener and one with resin. Follow the instructions for measuring and mixing, and pour enough to cover your intended water course about 1/8" deep at a time…multiple pours are best, even if you have to do four or more.
I used Swing Paints 'Nu-lustre 55", but you will find something identical in your hardware section, just a different manufacturer. Keep it clean between pours (cover with stiff cardboard), and you can even tint most of them. I used a single drop of Hauder Medium Green from Wal Mart’s craft paints, the small plastic vials of acrylics. Use no more than 1/8 tsp in about one full cup of the mix. Then cover with a clear pour when that one sets. Over top of the last pour, use gel gloss medium or liquid, and stipple it when it has been spread. You want to create a naturally disturbed water surface.
I added too much green to mine, so go easy! By the way, I also added a small pinch of plaster of Paris powder to that same batch with the green. It provided the turbid look you see.
Very impressive Crandell. I think it looks great.
Magnus
A superb result, Crandell.
Thanks Lillen and Mike. [:)] I am really pleased with the results, although I know now to back off on the amount of green I mixed into the batch of epoxy. The addition of the pinch of plaster powder…what can I say…a stroke of luck, genius, or insanity…I’ll accept any label as long as I can get consistent results for the rest of my life. [(-D]
-Crandell